Staphylococcus Epidermidis May Play Contributory Role In Pustular And Ocular Rosacea.
MedWire (10/22, Albert) reported that, according to research published online Oct. 12 in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, "scientists have demonstrated that Staphylococcus epidermidis is likely to play a contributory role in pustular and ocular rosacea." Researchers came to that conclusion after taking skin swabs to detect the presence of S. epidermidis "from an incised rosacea pustule, nearby cheek chin, and the eyelid margins of [15] patients with cutaneous pustular rosacea" and 15 matched healthy controls. Notably, the study authors "cultured pure S. epidermidis growths from nine pustule and four eyelid samples out of 15 in the patients with rosacea."
Keep in mind that ocular rosacea is often implicated in patient dry eye complaints. We need not overlook periocular skin lesions, especially across the bridge of the nose when a patient complains about dry Eyes.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Low Vitamin D3 Levels implicated in Diabetic Retinopathy
Patients With Diabetic Retinopathy More Likely To Have Insufficient Vitamin D Levels.
Medscape (10/22, Louden) reported that, according to research presented at an ophthalmology meeting, "patients with diabetic retinopathy, especially the proliferative type, are more likely to have insufficient serum vitamin D levels than people without diabetes, suggesting a link between vitamin D deficiency and one of the leading causes of blindness in adults." In a study of 221 patients with type 2 diabetes, researchers found that "people with diabetes had significantly lower mean 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels than people without diabetes (22.9 vs. 30.3 ng/mL; P < .001)." What's more, "people with no eye disease had the highest serum vitamin D levels (mean, 31.9 ng/mL), and those with proliferative retinopathy had the lowest levels (mean, 21.1 ng/mL)." And other diseases as well. See the Vitamin D Council for much more information on Vitamin D3.
Medscape (10/22, Louden) reported that, according to research presented at an ophthalmology meeting, "patients with diabetic retinopathy, especially the proliferative type, are more likely to have insufficient serum vitamin D levels than people without diabetes, suggesting a link between vitamin D deficiency and one of the leading causes of blindness in adults." In a study of 221 patients with type 2 diabetes, researchers found that "people with diabetes had significantly lower mean 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels than people without diabetes (22.9 vs. 30.3 ng/mL; P < .001)." What's more, "people with no eye disease had the highest serum vitamin D levels (mean, 31.9 ng/mL), and those with proliferative retinopathy had the lowest levels (mean, 21.1 ng/mL)." And other diseases as well. See the Vitamin D Council for much more information on Vitamin D3.
Friday, September 24, 2010
The High Cost of Poor Service
As we move forward as an organization into using Social Media to help market ourselves it occurs to me what a powerful tool the internet can be -- to build a practice or to help to destroy what you are trying to be.
It used to be that a dissatisfied patient would tell 10 friends, relatives and co-workers. In the internet/Social media age a dissatisfied patient may post to Facebook, Twitter, Yelp, and many other sites. Their message goes viral and you can bet that those who check these sites will see the bad review. Therefore we must be more and more vigilant about both preventing poor service and fixing problems when they inevitably occur.
What I suggest is that the OD as the CEO of the practice invite ALL of his or her patients to contact them if they are ever not completely satisfied with their experience in the office. How to do this? Something like this.... at the conclusion of the examination.
"Mrs. Jones I am responsible for everything that happens in this office. We try very hard to make certain that all of the professional and optical services (glasses or Contact lenses) that we provide to you are of the highest quality and completely meet your expectations. We want you to be completely satisfied with everything that we do. However, if there is ever any reason that you feel that we have fallen short of your expectations please contact me directly."
Then hand them your business card which has on it the office number, your cell number, and your business e-mail address. Welcome interaction with your less-than-satisfied patients as an opportunity to solve their problem to THEIR satisfaction. If necessary at your weekly office meeting (you DO have weekly office meetings!) discuss the incident and, if necessary, change office procedures to improve your services and prevent a dissatisfied patient from leaving your office and posting an adverse review for all to see.
I'd guess that most issues revolve around the Optical and Billing Areas of the practice. In Optical I would suggest that each frame stylist give each patient a business card along with the wording above. A critically important function is a call from the stylist to see how the patient is doing about a week after they receive their glasses. In fact, call-backs are required of all of our Optical Staff. Failing to do so if setting the practice up for a problem that you don't know exists.
Patient satisfaction is serious business.
It used to be that a dissatisfied patient would tell 10 friends, relatives and co-workers. In the internet/Social media age a dissatisfied patient may post to Facebook, Twitter, Yelp, and many other sites. Their message goes viral and you can bet that those who check these sites will see the bad review. Therefore we must be more and more vigilant about both preventing poor service and fixing problems when they inevitably occur.
What I suggest is that the OD as the CEO of the practice invite ALL of his or her patients to contact them if they are ever not completely satisfied with their experience in the office. How to do this? Something like this.... at the conclusion of the examination.
"Mrs. Jones I am responsible for everything that happens in this office. We try very hard to make certain that all of the professional and optical services (glasses or Contact lenses) that we provide to you are of the highest quality and completely meet your expectations. We want you to be completely satisfied with everything that we do. However, if there is ever any reason that you feel that we have fallen short of your expectations please contact me directly."
Then hand them your business card which has on it the office number, your cell number, and your business e-mail address. Welcome interaction with your less-than-satisfied patients as an opportunity to solve their problem to THEIR satisfaction. If necessary at your weekly office meeting (you DO have weekly office meetings!) discuss the incident and, if necessary, change office procedures to improve your services and prevent a dissatisfied patient from leaving your office and posting an adverse review for all to see.
I'd guess that most issues revolve around the Optical and Billing Areas of the practice. In Optical I would suggest that each frame stylist give each patient a business card along with the wording above. A critically important function is a call from the stylist to see how the patient is doing about a week after they receive their glasses. In fact, call-backs are required of all of our Optical Staff. Failing to do so if setting the practice up for a problem that you don't know exists.
Patient satisfaction is serious business.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Vitamin D, The Flu, and Your Health
Vitamin D, The Flu, and Your Health
As a comment to last week's Professional Services bulletin on the Flu Vaccine, Jeff Sterling, OD in the Greenville, Arlington Blvd. location put me on to the importance of Vitamin D supplementation as an additional intervention.
Seems that many of us do not get the proper amount of Vitamin D and supplementation is recommended for most, especially in the winter months. There is far too much information for me to relate to everyone but Jeff included some good reference material for those of you would would like to explore this issue yourselves.
The Use of Vitamin D in Clinical Practice
The Vitamin D Council
Finally, Jeff's statement on what all of this means to him:
"You're not going to find anything that says if you take this much Vit D, you won't get the flu. But I think (and I am not alone) that it is a good idea. Lots of anecdotal evidence on the web."
Thanks, Jeff!
As a comment to last week's Professional Services bulletin on the Flu Vaccine, Jeff Sterling, OD in the Greenville, Arlington Blvd. location put me on to the importance of Vitamin D supplementation as an additional intervention.
Seems that many of us do not get the proper amount of Vitamin D and supplementation is recommended for most, especially in the winter months. There is far too much information for me to relate to everyone but Jeff included some good reference material for those of you would would like to explore this issue yourselves.
The Use of Vitamin D in Clinical Practice
The Vitamin D Council
Finally, Jeff's statement on what all of this means to him:
"You're not going to find anything that says if you take this much Vit D, you won't get the flu. But I think (and I am not alone) that it is a good idea. Lots of anecdotal evidence on the web."
Thanks, Jeff!
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Does Migraine with Aura Need Cardiovascular Work-up?
Migraine With Aura Linked To Increased Risk Of Dying From Cardiovascular Disease.
Bloomberg News (8/25, Kay) reports that individuals who experience migraines with aura may be "more likely to die from stroke or heart disease, according to a study in the British Medical Journal."
The UK's Press Association (8/25) reports that investigators "examined data from 18,725 men and women born between 1907 and 1935 and living in Iceland."
The UK's Telegraph (8/25, Adams) reports that the researchers "found that those who had migraine with aura were 27 per cent more likely than those without migraines to die from cardiovascular disease, which includes both heart disease and strokes." The investigators also found that "suffering from normal migraine also increased the risk of mortality compared to those who did not suffer at all from them, but by a lesser degree." The UK's Daily Mail (8/25, Hope), WebMD (8/24, Doheny), and MedPage Today (8/24, Walsh) also covered the story.
Bloomberg News (8/25, Kay) reports that individuals who experience migraines with aura may be "more likely to die from stroke or heart disease, according to a study in the British Medical Journal."
The UK's Press Association (8/25) reports that investigators "examined data from 18,725 men and women born between 1907 and 1935 and living in Iceland."
The UK's Telegraph (8/25, Adams) reports that the researchers "found that those who had migraine with aura were 27 per cent more likely than those without migraines to die from cardiovascular disease, which includes both heart disease and strokes." The investigators also found that "suffering from normal migraine also increased the risk of mortality compared to those who did not suffer at all from them, but by a lesser degree." The UK's Daily Mail (8/25, Hope), WebMD (8/24, Doheny), and MedPage Today (8/24, Walsh) also covered the story.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Nexagon Gel Approved for Serious Eye Injuries
I must have been out to lunch on the Orphan Drug approval for chronic epithelial defects, especially those caused by chemical burns.
New Gel May Help Speed Healing Of Chronic Wounds, Serious Eye Injuries.
The AP (8/12, Cheng) reported that scientists have developed a new gel called Nexagon. Although it "has only been tested on about 100 people so far, experts say if it proves successful, the gel could have a major impact on treating chronic wounds, like leg or diabetes ulcers, and even common scrapes or injuries from accidents." It "works by interrupting how cells communicate and prevents the production of a protein that blocks healing," essentially allowing "cells to move faster to the wound to begin healing it." The gel has already "been granted approval by the Food and Drug Administration for serious eye injuries."
Company preparing to initiate Phase 2 clinical trial
May 11. 2009 - CoDa Therapeutics, Inc. today announced that its lead drug product candidate, Nexagon® , has received Orphan Drug Designation from the U.S Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of persistent corneal epithelial defects. The Company initiated a Phase 2 clinical trial for this indication in April 2009.
Persistent Epithelial Defect (PED) is a condition where the epithelium (thin layer of surface cells) covering the cornea of the eye fails to re-grow over a defect within the expected time period. PED is extremely difficult to treat and a common occurrence after traumatic abrasions and chemical injury. If unresolved the outcome for patients can lead to severe visual impairment or even blindness in the affected eye.
"Receiving orphan drug designation for Nexagon® for the treatment of PED is an important milestone for CoDa and provides meaningful benefits as we move our lead program through clinical development" commented Bradford J. Duft, President and Chief Executive Officer of CoDa.
"In acute eye injury from chemical burns a successful outcome for patients is often challenging. In recent cases of PED from ocular burns, where we received compassionate use approval from New Zealand regulatory authorities, we have seen dramatic improvement in epithelial re-growth and a positive result for patients following treatment with Nexagon® "commented Professor Charles McGhee, Director of the New Zealand National Eye Centre, University of Auckland. "This designation will assist CoDa’s clinical advancement of Nexagon® which has the potential to significantly improve clinical outcomes in patients with PED."
Orphan Drug Designation is granted by the FDA Office of Orphan Drug Products to novel drugs or biologics that treat a rare disease or condition affecting fewer than 200,000 patients in the U.S. Orphan Drug Designation entitles CoDa to seven years of market exclusivity in the treatment of PED patients in the event of market approval for this indication. Additional incentives for orphan drug development include tax credits related to development expenses, reduction in FDA user fees, and FDA assistance in clinical trial design.
New Gel May Help Speed Healing Of Chronic Wounds, Serious Eye Injuries.
The AP (8/12, Cheng) reported that scientists have developed a new gel called Nexagon. Although it "has only been tested on about 100 people so far, experts say if it proves successful, the gel could have a major impact on treating chronic wounds, like leg or diabetes ulcers, and even common scrapes or injuries from accidents." It "works by interrupting how cells communicate and prevents the production of a protein that blocks healing," essentially allowing "cells to move faster to the wound to begin healing it." The gel has already "been granted approval by the Food and Drug Administration for serious eye injuries."
Company preparing to initiate Phase 2 clinical trial
May 11. 2009 - CoDa Therapeutics, Inc. today announced that its lead drug product candidate, Nexagon® , has received Orphan Drug Designation from the U.S Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of persistent corneal epithelial defects. The Company initiated a Phase 2 clinical trial for this indication in April 2009.
Persistent Epithelial Defect (PED) is a condition where the epithelium (thin layer of surface cells) covering the cornea of the eye fails to re-grow over a defect within the expected time period. PED is extremely difficult to treat and a common occurrence after traumatic abrasions and chemical injury. If unresolved the outcome for patients can lead to severe visual impairment or even blindness in the affected eye.
"Receiving orphan drug designation for Nexagon® for the treatment of PED is an important milestone for CoDa and provides meaningful benefits as we move our lead program through clinical development" commented Bradford J. Duft, President and Chief Executive Officer of CoDa.
"In acute eye injury from chemical burns a successful outcome for patients is often challenging. In recent cases of PED from ocular burns, where we received compassionate use approval from New Zealand regulatory authorities, we have seen dramatic improvement in epithelial re-growth and a positive result for patients following treatment with Nexagon® "commented Professor Charles McGhee, Director of the New Zealand National Eye Centre, University of Auckland. "This designation will assist CoDa’s clinical advancement of Nexagon® which has the potential to significantly improve clinical outcomes in patients with PED."
Orphan Drug Designation is granted by the FDA Office of Orphan Drug Products to novel drugs or biologics that treat a rare disease or condition affecting fewer than 200,000 patients in the U.S. Orphan Drug Designation entitles CoDa to seven years of market exclusivity in the treatment of PED patients in the event of market approval for this indication. Additional incentives for orphan drug development include tax credits related to development expenses, reduction in FDA user fees, and FDA assistance in clinical trial design.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
What's Coming in EHR's
Don't hold your breath but, one day..........
Newly Developed Program Automatically Sifts Through Patient Charts To Provide Diagnosis, Treatment Suggestions.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (8/9, Ghose) reports "University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee researchers have developed a program that reads patient charts, then automatically sifts through thousands of medical studies and condenses the key findings to suggest diagnoses and treatment." In most cases, "the system, called AskHermes, does as well as doctors," according to the study, published online in the Journal of Biomedical Informatics. "Doctors could one day use the program to cross-check their conclusions, identify rare diseases or optimize their treatment regimens," the paper adds.
Newly Developed Program Automatically Sifts Through Patient Charts To Provide Diagnosis, Treatment Suggestions.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (8/9, Ghose) reports "University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee researchers have developed a program that reads patient charts, then automatically sifts through thousands of medical studies and condenses the key findings to suggest diagnoses and treatment." In most cases, "the system, called AskHermes, does as well as doctors," according to the study, published online in the Journal of Biomedical Informatics. "Doctors could one day use the program to cross-check their conclusions, identify rare diseases or optimize their treatment regimens," the paper adds.
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